AP Notes, Outlines, Study Guides, Vocabulary, Practice Exams and more!

AP Psychology Biology of Psychology Flashcards

Terms : Hide Images
6645096973Action potentialA neural impulse: a brief electrical charge that travels down an axon, The action potential is generated by the movement of positively changed atoms in and out of channels in the axon's membrane.0
6645096974Adrenal glandsA pair of endocrine glands just above the kidneys. The adrenals secrete the hormones epinephrine (adrenaline) and norepinephrine (noradrenaline), which help to arouse the body in times of stress.1
6645096977AmygdalaTwo lima bean-sized neural clusters that are components of the limbic system and are linked to emotion.2
6645096978AntagonistInhibit neural impulses by blocking receptor sites or diminishing their release.3
6645096979AphasiaImpairment of language, usually caused by left hemisphere damage either to Broca's area (impairing speaking) or to Wernicke's area (impairing understanding).4
6645096981Autonomic nervous systemThe part of the peripheral nervous system that controls the glands and the muscles of the internal organs (such as the heart). Its sympathetic division arouses: its parasympathetic division calms.5
6645096982AxonThe extension of a neuron, ending in branching terminal fibers, through which messages pass to other neurons of to muscles or glands.6
6645096983Biopsychology (biological psychology)A branch of psychology concerned with the links between biology and behavior. (some biological psychologists call themselves behavioral neuroscientists, neuropsychologists, behavior genetics, physiological psychologists, or bio-psychologists.)7
6645096984Behavioral geneticsThe study of the relative power and limits of genetic ad environmental influences on behavior.8
6645096985BrainstemThe oldest part and central core of the brain, beginning where the spinal cord swells as it enters the skull: the brain-stem is responsible for automatic survival functions.9
6645096986Central nervous system (CNS)The brain and spinal cord.10
6645096987CerebellumThe "little brain" attached to the rear of the brain-stem; its functions include processing sensory input and coordinating movement output and balance.11
6645096988Cerebral cortexThe intricate fabric of interconnected neural cells that cover the cerebral hemispheres: the body's ultimate control and information-processing center.12
6645096989Corpus callosumThe large band of neural fibers connecting the two brain hemispheres and carrying messages between them.13
6645096990DendritesThe bushy, branching extensions of a neuron that receive messages and conduct impulses toward the cell body.14
6645096991Electroencephalogram (EEG)An amplified recording of the waves of electrical activity that sweep across the brain's surface. These waves are measured by electrodes placed on the scalp.15
6645096992Endocrine systemThe body's 'slow" chemical communication system:set of glands that secrete hormones into the bloodstream.16
6645096993Endorphins"Morphine within"-natural, opiatelike neurotransmitters linked to plain control and to pleasure.17
6645096994ForebrainThe largest and most complex region of the brain, encompassing a variety of structures, including he thalamus, hypothalamus, limbic system, and cerebrum.18
6645096995Glial callCells in the nervous system that support, nourish, and protects neurons.19
6645096996HindbrainIncludes the cerebellum and two structures found in the lower part of the brain-stem, the medulla and pons.20
6645096997HormonesChemical messengers, mostly those manufactured by the endocrine glands, that are produced in one tissue and effect another.21
6645096998HypothalamusA neural structure lying below (hypo) the thalamus: is directs several maintenance activities (eating,drinking,body temperature), helps govern the endocrine system via the pituitary gland, and is linked to emotion.22
6645096999InterneuronsCentral nervous system neurons that internally communicate and intervene between the sensory inputs and motor outputs.23
6645097000LesioningTissue destruction, a naturally or experimentally caused destruction of brain tissue.24
6645097001Limbic systemA doughnut-shaped system of neuronal structures at the border of the brain-stem and cerebral hemispheres: associated with emotions such as fear and aggression and dives such as those for food and sex. Includes the hippocampus, amygdala, and hypothalamus.25
6645097002(MRI) Magnetic resonance imagingA technique that uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce computer-generated images that distinguish among different types of soft tissues: allows us to see structures within the brain.26
6645097003MedullaThe base of the brain-stem: controls heartbeat and breathing.27
6645097004FMRI) Functional MRIA technique for revealing blood flow and, therefore, brain actity by comparing successive MRI scans. MRI scans show brain anatomy: FMRI scans show brain function.28
6645097005MidbrainThe segment of the brain-stem that lies between the hindbrian and forebrain.29
6645097006Myelin sheathA layer of fatty tissue segmentally encasing the fibers pf many neurons: enables vastly greater transmission speed of neural impulses as the impulse hops from one node to the next.30
6645097007NervesNeural "cables' containing many axons. These bundled axons, which are part of the peripheral nervous system, connect the central nervous system with muscles, glands, and sense organs.31
6645097008Neural networksInterconnected neural cells. With experience, networks can learn, as feedback strengthens or inhibits connections that produce certain results. Computer stimulation's or neural networks show analogous learning.32
6645097009NeuronA nerve cell: the basic building block of the nervous system33
6645097010NeurotransmittersChemical messengers that traverse the synaptic gaps between neurons. When released by the sending neuron, neurotransmitters travel across the synapse and bind to receptor sites on the receiving neuron, thereby influencing weather that neuron will generate a neural impulse.34
6645097011Parasympathetic nervous systemThe division of the autonomic nervous system that calms the body, conserving its energy.35
6645097012Peripheral nervous system (PNS)The sensory and motor neurons that connect the central nervous system (CNS) to the rest of the body.36
6645097013Pituitary glandThe endocrine system's most influential gland. Under the influence of the hypothalamus, the pituitary regulates growth and controls other endocrine glands. Master gland37
6645097014PlasticityThe brain's capacity for modification, s evidence in brain reorganization following damage (especially in children) and in experiments on the effects of experiments on brain development.38
6645097015(PET) Positron emission tomographyA visual display of the brain activity that detects where a radioactive form of glucose goes while the brain performs a given task.39
6645097016ReflexA simple, automatic, inborn response to a sensory stimulus, such as the knee-jerk response.40
6645097017Resting potentialNeuron is in its normal, resting state. Ions within the cell give the axon a small negative charge, fluid outside is positive charged.41
6645097018Reticular FormationA nerve network in the brain-stem that plays an important role in controlling arousal.42
6645097019Somatic nervous systemThe division of the peripheral nervous system that controls the body's skeletal muscles. Also called the skeletal nervous system.43
6645097020sympathetic nervous systemThe division of the autonomic nervous system that arouses the body, mobilizing its energy in stressful situations.44
6645097021SynapseThe junction between the axon tip of the sending neuron and the dendrite or cell body of the receiving neuron.45
6645097022Synapse cleftThe gap at the junction of the synapse.46
6645097023Terminal buttonsEnlarged area at the end of the axon; contains the synaptic vesicle.47
6645097024ThalamusThe brains sensory switchboard, located on the top of the brain-stem; it directs messages to the sensory receiving areas in the cortex and transmits replies to the cerebellum and medulla.48
6645097025ThresholdThe level of stimulation required to trigger a neural impulse.49
6645097026motor neuronsa nerve cell forming part of a pathway along which impulses pass from the brain or spinal cord to a muscle or gland.50
6645097027Broca's Areapart of the brain that is responsible for speech production51
6645097028wernicke's areapart of the brain that is responsible for understanding spoken language52
6645097029split brain patientscorpus collosum is severed, two hemispheres of the brain don't communicate as effectively53
6645097030afferent neuronscarries nerve impulses from sensory receptors or sense organs toward the central nervous system.54
6645097031efferent neuronsNeurons that send impulses from the central nervous system to your limbs and organs55
6645097033occipital lobeThe occiptial lobe is important to being able to correctly understand what your eyes are seeing.56
6645097034temporal lobemainly revolves around hearing and selective listening.57
6645097035frontal lobedecision making58
6645097036parietal lobeprocesses sensory information59
6645097037absolute refractory periodthe period immediately following the firing of a nerve fiber when it cannot be stimulated no matter how great a stimulus is applied60
6645097039all or none principlestates that the strength of a response of a neuron or muscle fiber is not dependent upon the strength of the stimulus. If a stimulus is above a certain threshold, a neuron or muscle fiber will fire.61

Need Help?

We hope your visit has been a productive one. If you're having any problems, or would like to give some feedback, we'd love to hear from you.

For general help, questions, and suggestions, try our dedicated support forums.

If you need to contact the Course-Notes.Org web experience team, please use our contact form.

Need Notes?

While we strive to provide the most comprehensive notes for as many high school textbooks as possible, there are certainly going to be some that we miss. Drop us a note and let us know which textbooks you need. Be sure to include which edition of the textbook you are using! If we see enough demand, we'll do whatever we can to get those notes up on the site for you!